Kollam: An artist who quit his Government job to pursue his passion for painting is now coming to the aid of cancer and kidney patients, adding shades of charity to his art. K.V. Jyothilal, the Kollam-based artist and sculptor who presented several installations across the State, will sell 70 of his paintings to raise funds for the cause.
Mr. Jyothilal (55), hailing from ‘Pallavi’ in Kadappakkada, was born in Neeravil here in 1962 as the son of P.K. Vamadevan and K.P. Sumathy. “I was lucky enough to have S.K. Kumaran as my guru who also taught eminent personalities like Paris Viswanathan and Jayapalan Nair,” he says. He did his post diploma in fine arts from Ravi Varma College of fine arts, Mavelikkara.
K.V. Jyothilal
Before taking voluntary retirement from Government service in 2013 to dedicate fulltime to arts, Mr. Jyothilal worked as an art teacher for nearly 30 years with schools in Wayanad and Kollam. He is currently an organiser of Creative Artists’ Solidarity, an Association of artists and art lovers and chairman of the Jayapala Panicker memorial art foundation.
Mr. Jyothilal is also a sculptor who has installed several sculptures throughout the State. “I believe installations existed much before Dadaism in 1917. According to me, it was Sree Narayana Guru who made the first installation ever by installing a mirror in place of the deity at the Kalavankode temple in 1988,” he said.
This artist, who conducted several solo exhibitions, group shows and art camps in India and abroad has a slew of awards to his credit including the Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy awards. He has also created a series of paintings under the title ‘love song series’ illustrating the love songs by Vayalar Ramavarma.
The pictures including paper works drawn by him that will be put up for sale at the Kadappakkada sports club here on August 11-13. The money will benefit three destitute families who are struggling because of ailments. “We as artists have a commitment towards this society. The meaning of our life lies in helping others,” Jyothilal says.
